title: Examining the effect of the case management model on patient results in the palliative care of patients with cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the improvement in symptoms, quality of life, patient and family satisfaction with care, and direct costs resulting from a palliative care program based case management model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research was implemented at the Medical Oncology Clinic hospital of a University between September 2009 and September 2011. The research sample consisted of a total of 44 patients (22 control and 22 intervention group). The research tools were the Edmonton Symptom Diagnosis System, the Karnofsky Performance Scale, the EORTCQLQ-C30 Quality of Life Scale, a patient and family satisfaction form, and a patient cost record form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference between total symptom mean scores and the sub-dimension symptoms of pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, lack of appetite, lethargy, well-being, dyspnea, and constipation post-hospitalization and post-discharge of patients in the control and experimental groups were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). The level of decrease in symptom severity in the experimental group patients was more than in the control group (p < 0.000). The satisfaction level of patients and family in the palliative care based case management service was higher than that for conventional service in the control group (p < 0.05). No statistical difference was detected between the experimental and control groups regarding health costs and duration of hospitalization (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We provided a better symptom control, improved the patient s quality of life (excluding physical and congnitive functions), and patient and family satisfaction levels were higher in the palliative care based case management intervention group, but direct health costs were not affected.
authors.affiliation: Zubeyde Hanim School of Health, Nigde University, Nigde, Turkey hanifeozcelik@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hanife
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozcelik
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cicek
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fadiloglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.affiliation: Department of Algology, Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uyar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019090:Case Management / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: care management; case management; multidisciplinary team; nursing; palliative care; symptom control